Chattanooga Head Coach Will Wade
Thoughts on the game
“It really got away from us at the end of the first half. We should have gone in tied or with the lead, but we had some foul trouble. We had to play some guys that maybe weren't quite ready. It really got away from us there. We played a really good first half. We stayed in there, got down 9-3 and really hung in there. We controlled the first half for the majority of it. We were able to grind some things out, but we couldn't really press because of foul trouble. We had a really good scheme against their press offense but couldn't implement it. We had to gamble more near the end. We were a little out of whack, but our guys fought in the first half.”
On Butler taking a lead to the half
“We needed to go in tied or with the lead at half. We had a chance to take the lead on a couple of free throws, and there's a big difference between being up 24-22 instead of being down 25-22 at half. There's a big difference. We have to clean up some of those little things. We couldn't finish in the lane and that hurt us. We got three or four clean looks in the lane early and couldn't hit them. But these guys and Wisconsin will be the two biggest, most physical teams we play. We are going to face a toughness challenge on Saturday with Tennessee Tech. They rebound the ball well, but these guys are bigger and stronger than most folks. Some of the problems we had against these two teams won't plague us during the season.”
On the team improving and gelling
“We have to start growing up. We can't use that as an excuse anymore. It is time to make our move and get better. We need to do that now. It is time to step up. We've thrown them into the fire with two tough road games, and we have to get better. We have to get better to beat Tennessee Tech.”
Thoughts on Tennessee Tech
“Tennessee Tech is a heck of a rebounding team. It is going to be tough on Saturday. It is going to be a good, close game. Both teams are going to go after it. It is time for us to grow up and get a win on the road.”
Eric Robertson, guard, junior
On his hot night beyond the arc
“I was just trying to do the best I could to help my team. I got some open looks to shoot and got some confidence. I got to knock a few down like we practice.”
On his role on the team and how experience helps in crucial minutes
“My role on the team hasn't changed much, but being a little older and experienced really helps in games like this. Whenever you have to go into a different atmosphere, you have to zone out the crowd and just play the game. You can't worry about things outside the court you can't control.”
On opening the road schedule with two tough teams
“Games like this and Wisconsin will really help us in the long run. We are building on our team and getting better. The best way to do that is to just play games together. We have to get more acquainted with each other and improve.”
Casey Jones, guard, junior
On finding foul trouble early in the game
“I got into some foul trouble early and I think that hurt us. I try to play smart, but I was a little over-aggressive on defense. I am an aggressive player and sometimes I get a little too aggressive.”
Thoughts on the halftime score
“It would have made a difference if we had led or tied the game going to the half. They were able to get that three and that gave them confidence going into the locker room. It doesn't sound like a lot, but three points can go a long way. It was a tie game and that three gave them momentum, and it is devastating to see that ball go in.”
